Slashers



A. C. ADAMS March 8, 1960 SLASHERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed. Sept. 5, 1956 A. C. ADAMS SLASHERS March 8, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 5, 1956 United States Patent SLASHERS Andrew C. Adams, Saco, Maine, assignor to Sam-Lowell Shops, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Maine Application September 5, 1956, Serial No. 608,117

Claims. (Cl. 28-28) The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling the tension of the yarn sheet passing from the individual beams of a creel through the size vat of a slasher.

v The tension imposed upon a sheet of yarns as it passes through the size vat of a slasher is of the greatest importance for a number of reasons, primarily because the size content in the yarn is increased or decreased respectively as the tension decreases or increases, but also befiause the yarn being in a wet condition has much reduced strength, and so if placed under-a heavy tension is easily damaged, so that it is thereafter much more subject to breakage during weaving. These conditions require that a yarn tension adjusted to a uniform low value be applied to the sheet of yarns passing through the size vat at all times. However, due to the fact that the yarn tension in a slasher varies while running, among other reasons because of the transition from full creel beams to empty creel beams which produces a gradual increase in tension, this desirable state of affairs has not been achieved by the slashing apparatus heretofore in use.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a novel device and method for controlling the tension of the yarns as they are drawn from the creel through the size vat so that this tension may at all times be maintained at a uniform low value, yet one sufiicient to maintain the relative positions of the yarns in the yarn sheet.

In carrying out the method of my invention, I cause the yarns of the yarn sheet to be drawn from the beams of the creel against a continuously adjustable braking tension and to pass over a feed roll which is continuously driven at a predetermined rate and in turn feeds the yarn sheet to the positively driven nip rolls in the size vat.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of further steps to secure and maintain the desired low level tension upon the feeding yarn sheet which includes automatic adjustment as needed of the braking tension applied against the individual beams of the creel. The provision made for this further control of the tension upon the yarn sheet as it is drawn through the size vat depends upon the fact that the tension of the yarn varies directlywith its stretch. V

Specifically, in accordance with the invention it is proposed to measure variations in the length of the yarn sheet passing from the feed station to the size vat, and thereupon to make a corresponding adjustment of the braking tension exerted upon the yarns drawn from the individual beams of the creel. Assuming,.for example, that the tension upon the yarn drawn from the beams of the creel has for some reason sharply increased, a corresponding stretch is produced in that portion of the yarn sheet which is extending between the creel and the feed roll subjected to this increased tension. As

this portion of the yarn sheet then moves beyond the I prevails, the yarn sheet will tend to contract in length. This tendency to contract or to increase in length of the portion of the yarn sheet extending between the feed station and the size vat may thus be taken as a measure of the adjustment of the braking tension required to restore to a desired value the tension upon the yarns drawn from the creel to the feed roll.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device for controlling the tension of the yarns drawn from the creel into the size vat in accordance with the method above set forth which is well adapted to maintain the tension applied to the yarn passing through the size vat at'the minimum value required to maintain an adequate control of the advancing yarn sheet.

Other objects of the invention are to further provide for an overall control of the tension of the yarns drawn from the beams of the creel to the size vat under various operating conditions not previously referred to which will include the starting and stopping of the machine.

With the above and other objects in view as may hereinafter appear the several features of the invention including the method and apparatus illustrating a preferred form of the invention as hereinafter described and claimed, together with the advantages to be obtained thereby, will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a slasher illustrating particularly a portion of the creel, the size vat, and the tension control mechanism of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale i section to illustrate the braking tension device associated with one of the beams of the creel including the air cylinder control therefor provided in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the tension control device shown in Fig. 1 including particularly the binder rolls and air pressure connections controlled thereby which act in response to variations in the stretch in the feeding yarn;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan view partly in section taken on a line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on a line 55 of Fig. 4 illustrating a portion of the drive for the feed roll;

Fig. 6 is a view looking from the left of the driving connections for the feed roll shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 7-7 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a view looking from the left of substantially the part shown in Fig. 3, and

Fig 9 is a fragmentary detail view partly in section of the feed roll and the binder rolls shown in Fig. 3 but with both of said rolls lifted from the feed roll.

The invention is disclosed in the drawings as embodied in a slasher which may be of ordinary description, only a portion of the creel and the size vat together with the tension control mechanismof the present invention being shown. The creel comprises a series of beams of which four are shown at 20, 22, 24, and 26 mounted on brackets, not shown, which in turn are carried on base rails 30. Each of the beams of the creel is provided with a tension brake of which those associated with beams 20 and 26 are shown. The tension brake associated with beam 20 is illustrated in substanfe'ed station into an area in which a relatively low tension tial detail in the enlarged Fig. 2. The braking device as best shown in Fig. 2 consists of a cord 32 which is anchored at one end at 34 to a bracket 36 on the base rail 30 and passes around a groove formed in the head 38 at one end of the associated beam 20. Thence, the

otally mounted on a fixed bracket 44. The other arm of the bellcrank is connected-withthe piston rod 46 of an air cylinder 48 having mounted therein a piston 50 to which the piston rod 46 is attached- -Each of the beams of the creel is provided with an identically similar tension braking device, these additional braking devices, however, notbeing shown in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of parts. The yarns from the several beams are wound in a normal manner around successive beams, finally leaving the creel at beam 20.

In accordance with the invention, a feed roll 54 is provided between the creel and the size vat of the slasher generally designated at 56. As hereinafter more fully pointed out, the nip rolls normally provided with the size vat are positively driven and a positive drive is provided also for the feed roll 54 sothat the yarn sheet is drawn from the beams of the creel under a tension, and is then positively fed to the size vat under a tension. As shown in the drawings, the yarn sheet designated at 58 passes around a rear binder roll 62,.under and around the feed roll 54, over a front binder roll 60, and thence to the first pair of nip rolls 6 4, 66 of the size vat 56.

The drive for the vat rolls and for the feed roll 54 of the slasher as shown in Fig. l is taken from a main driving motor 70 mounted on a bracket 72 on the rail 30. The motor 76 is connected by means of .sprocket chains 74 and 76 passing around sprockets .on the drive shaft or" the motor ,70: and around sprocketsconnected with therespective front and rear size rolls 66 and 80. The motor 70 is also connected to drive the'feed 'roll 54 through connections which include a sprocket chain 82 arranged to pass around a sprocket on the drive shaft f justed position, there are provided two clamping screws 98 and 100 which pass through elongated slots 102, 104 in the right hand end of the supporting bracket 94. With this arrangement it is possible to substitute one pinion 90 for another such pinion having a difierent number of teeth in the assembly and thus to regulate the rate of drive of the feed'roll 54 with relation to the size rolls 66, 80.

vention for measuring length variation or stretch and thereby for controlling the amount of tension in those portions of the yarn sheet passing .to and from the feed roll 54 comprises the rear binder roll 62 and the front binder roll 60 above referred to, together with a system of pneumatic controls hereinafter to be described. These binder rolls operate by pinching the yarn to provide a bite between each of them and feed roll 54, which bite iscreated by the weight of a binder roll to some extent but chiefly by the angle of pull created by the yarn tension; The front binder roll 60 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 9) is supported on two short upwardly extending arms 120, 122 on pivots 124, 126 on two forwardly extending support levers 128, 130 sleeved on bushings, one-of which is indicated at 118 in Fig. 4, which provide bearing support for the supporting shaft 93 for the feed roll 54. The rear binder roll 62 is similarly supported on two short upwardly extending arms 106, 108 which are pivotally supported respectively at 110 and 112 on horizontal lever arms 1 14, 116 rotatably mounted on the bushing supports for the feed roll54. Thus, as willbe seen from Fig. 3,

. a 4' the direction of pull of the yarn tends to pull the binder roll against the feed roll.

Although normally the above condition prevails while running, when the binder rolls 60 and 62 are to be raised away from the feed roll 54 as for the passage of knots, they are supported against downward swinging movement around pivots and-124 by the engagement of cam surfaces on the respective arms with pin rests, each of which is mounted on the tail portion of the adjacent sup porting lever for the other binder roll. Fonexample, a cam surface 131 formed on arm 106 for binder roll 62 is adapted for engagement with a pin support 134 mounted on a tail portion of the supporting arm 128 for binder roll 60, and a cam surface 132 formed on the short arm for binder roll 60 is adapted for engagement with a pin rest 136 provided on a tail portion of the supporting lever 114 for the binder roll 62.

During normal. operation, movement of the: binder roll 62 upwardly etfects a'rocking of its horizontally disposed support levers 114, 116 by means of connections (see Figs. 3 and 7), which include a rock shaft 138 mounted beneath said binder roll assembly, the two horizontally disposed arms 140, 142 secured to the rock shaft 138 being connected respectively byadjustable links 144, 146 with the levers 114, 116 by means of which the binder roll 62 is supported. The'binder roll 60 is similarly supported in a yarn sheet engaging position by means of similar connections which include a rock shaft 148 mounted on the machine below the binder roll 60 (see Figs. 3 and 7),, the two horizontally disposed arms 150, 152 secured to the rock shaft 148 being con nected by adjustable links 154, 156 with the respective support levers 128, for the binder roll 60, The angular position of rock shaft .138 is controlled as best shown in Figs. 3 and 7 by means of connections which include a horizontally disposed arm 160 whichis secured to one end of the rock shaft 138. The arm l60at its other end is connected with the piston 162 of a vertically disposed air cylinder 164. The angular positionof rock shaft 148 which together with yarn tension. controls the position of binder roll 60 is similarly controlled by means of connections which include a horizontally disposed arm 166 secured to one end of rock shaft 148. At its outer end the arm 166 is pivotally connected with the piston 168 of a vertically disposed air cylinder 170 having a stroke extending downwardly beyond that of cylinder 164. V V 3 During the normal operation of the-slasher, air is admitted into each of the cylinders 164, 170 to create a desired force on the respective binder rolls 62, 60 for providing the desired yarn tension on the portions of the yarn sheet passing around these binder rolls. However, when the binder rolls are to be swung awayfrom the The apparatus provided in accordance withiitheilin feed r011 as'when it becomes necessary to pass through the machine knots tying together sets of yarns, the extra stroke provided in air cylinder 170 results in the movement of said rolls positively away from contact with the feed roll '54 when the air pressure in the cylinders is reversed from the direction in which it is normally applied. This occurs, "as hereinafter. more fully explained, because downward movement of cylinder 17 0 with cylinder 164 bottomed causes cam portions 131, 132 to be engaged by rest pins 134, 136 to swing binder rolls 60, 62 abouttheir pivots 110, 124 away from feed roll 54.

Upward and downward take-up movement of the binder rolls 62 and 60 which results from the variations in ten: sion of the yarn sheet during normal operation is utilized to adjust the position of an air valve 172 (see Figs. 1 and 3) which forms part of the pneumatic circuit for controlling the operation ofthe beam tension brake control cylinders above described. The valve 172 comprises a casing from which projects upwardly a valve stem 174 adapted for engagement with the lower end of a vertically shiftable plunger 176 slidable in a fixed bracket 178. 'At its upper endthe plunger- 176 is formed with a horizontally disposed platform 180 which is arranged to be engaged by one or both of two eccentric rolls 1 82 and 184 which are mounted in an offset position on the ends, respectively, of the rock shafts 138 and 148. An upward movement of binder roll 60, as a result of the increase in the amount of slack in that portion of the yarn sheet extending from said roll 54 to the size vat 56, will tend to raise links 154, 156 and to rock shaft 148 in a clockwise direction, and thus to depress follower roll 184, plunger 176, and valve stem 174 therewith. An upward movement of the binder roll 62 will also have the effect of depressing the stem of the air valve 174. In each case, so depressing the stem of air valve 174 allows greater air flow and so increases the air pressure. Conversely, downward movement of the binder rolls 60, 62 would have the effect of allowing the stem of the air valve 174 to rise under the influence of a compression spring 185 forming part of the air valveunit.

The components of the pneumatic system for maintaining the tension on the feeding yarn sheet at the desired level include two air cylinders 164, 170 above referred to, which are supplied from a supply line 186 and pressure control valve 187 for setting the desired running tension 0f the yarns through a reversing valve 188. The valve 188 is connected by a distribution line 190 and a branch line 192 with the upper ends of the two air cylinders 164, 170 for moving the binder rolls 60, 62 as above described. A separate distribution line 1&4 and a branch line 196 connects the'valve 188 with the lower ends of the air cylinders 164, 170. The arrangement of these connections is such that air pressure is supplied in equal amounts to each of the two cylinders 170 and 164 causing the two binder rolls 60, 62 to be engaged with their respective portions of the yarn sheet at the same pressure. 'Air under pressure is directed to control valve 172 by means of a conduit 200, thence passes through conduit 202 and a directional control valve 204 to conduits 206 and 208 which are connected respectively with the opposite ends of each of the several beam brake ten sion cylinders, of which one is shown in Fig. 1 at 48, and another is designated at 209. There is also provided, as shown in Fig. 1, a manually operable electrical control for shifting the position of the directional supply control valve 204 which operates in starting the machine to reverse the flow of air to the beam brake tension cylinders in order to release the braking on the beam ends for starting 'so that no more tension is placed on the yarn ends than is necessary to start the beams rotating. These connections include a manual contactor 210 which is connected through a timing device 212 and a solenoid 214 arranged to act upon the stem 216 of the valve 204. In starting up the machine, assuming that either the usual creep button, or run button, is pressed as exemplified by the contactor 210, a timing cycle of about six seconds is started. At the beginning of the six seconds, the solenoid 214 is energized moving the valve stem 216 to reverse the usual flow of air to the brake tension cylinders, so that air is directed to the opposite or release side of each braking cylinder to completely release the brakes on the beam heads. At the end of three seconds after closing the contactor 210, the motors start turning and pulling yarn from the beams. The electrical system, by means of which this latter operation is accomplished, is not specifically illustrated inasmuch as it does not form specifically a part of the invention. At the end of the six seconds the timer 212 returns to its normal setting, and solenoid 214 is deenergized and permits the return of the valve stem 216 to its normal position, so that air is again directed to the braking side of each tension braking air cylinder in the creel causing a braking tension to be applied to each of the several beams of the creel.

While the machine is in operation, the tension contro mechanism operates in the following manner:

'It is assumed that the surface speeds of the feed roll 54 and of the size rolls 64, 66 are identical. The tn= sion on the yarn sheet 58 between the front binder roll 60 and the first pair of size rolls 64, 66 is governed by the setting of an air pressure regulator 187 (Fig. 1) which supplies air through the 4-way valve 188 to the upper ends of the two air cylinders 164, 170. This air pressure causes the two air pistons 162-, 168 and associated parts to be forced yieldingly upwardly so that the binder r0115: 62 and 60, respectively, are moved yieldingly upwardly to impress a take-up tensioning strain upon the portions of the yarn sheet 58 approaching and leaving the feed roll 54. If the tension on the yarn sheet 58 between the rear binder roll 62 and the creel is the same as the tension on that portion of the yarn sheet extending be tween the front binder roll 69 and the size rolls 64, 66 there will be no movement of the front binder roll 60; However, if the tension of the yarn engaged by the rear binder roll 62 becomes greater than the tension upon that portion of the yarn sheet engaged by the front binder roll 60, it follows that the portion of the yarn sheet leaving the creel has been stretched more and when it has passed around the feed roll 54 and front binder roll 60, it readjusts itself to the lesser tension which has been established between the feed roll 54 and the vat by the take-up action of the front binder roll 60, and in so doing contracts to provide a decrease in length, and thereby tends to move the front binder roll 60 downwardly rais= ing the valve stem of valve 174 and, thus decreasing the air pressure passing from the air pressure controller 172 to the several brake cylinders, such as that shown at 48 in Figs. 1 and 2, which are associated with each of the several beams. The tension on that portion of the yarn sheet 58 passing from the creel to the feed roll 54 is thus correspondingly decreased to the desired value. In like manner, if that portion of the yarn sheet passing from the creel to the feed roll should be traveling at a less than desired amount of tension this portion of the yarn sheet will tend to contract and will then readjust itself by stretching when it reaches a position extending between the feed roll 54 and the vat rolls 64, 66. Under these conditions, the front binder roll 66 will tend to move up wardly to take up the increased length of yarn extending between the feed roll and the vat so that the stem of the controller valve 172 will move upwardly to provide an increased flow of air to the brake cylinders 48 of the creel. In this manner the tension on that portion of the yarn sheet extending from the creel to the feed roll 54 will be correspondingly increased again to the desired value. Under actual operating conditions the tension upon that portion of the yarn sheet extending between the creel and feed roll 54 should always be somewhat greater than the tension upon that portion of the yarn sheet extending between the feed roll and the vat. It will be understood that because of the accurate control which is imposed upon that portion of the yarn sheet extending between the feed roll 54 and the vat that the tension of this portion of the yarn sheet may be almost neutral, whereas, there is less control over the yarns as they are drawn from the creel and a substantial amount of yarn tension is required to prevent any displacement or crossing of the ends as they leave the creel. A tension differential is provided by imparting to the feed roll a slightly greater surface speed than is imparted to the size rolls 66, 64. As previously set forth, a speed differential is obtained by means of a change gear which may have 101 teeth, 102 teeth, 103 teeth, 104 teeth, or 105 teeth. A 101 tooth gear, for example, indicates that the surface speed of the feed roll is 1% greater than the surface speed of the size rolls and that the stretch of yarn at the creel side of the feed roll 54 is 1% greater than the stretch of yarn at the vat side of the feed roll 54 with a corresponding variation in yarn tension.

Under certain conditions as, for example, when the slasher is being set up with a new set of beams the binder rolls will be lifted away from the surface of the feed roll 54 so that a clearance of about l" is provided for the passing of knots at the start of the new'set. This operation is accomplished by moving the hand lever of the 4-way valve 188 which places the air on the opposite ends of the two air cylinders 164, 170 connected to the binder rolls 62, 60. Cylinder 164, being shorter than cylinder' 170, bottoms first, with cylinder 170 being free to move for an additional short distance. The continuing downward movement of the binder roll 60 after binder roll 62 stops due to bottoming of the cylinder 164 causes the cam portions 131, 132 of the binder roll support levers to be engaged with the corresponding rest pins 134, 136 so that the binder rolls' themselves are swung positively about their pivots 110, 124 to move them away from the feed roll 54 to the position shown specifically in Fig. 9.

The tension control mechanism is also particularly adapted for maintaining the relative positions of the yarns when the machine is stopped. During the operation of stopping the slasher the rear binder roll 62 has the chief function of immediately taking up any slack which may be created by the section'beams tending to overrideas the slasher is brought to a stop. This rear binder roll 62 acts immediately upon the air controller 172 to increase the air pressure being fed to the creel air cylinders 48 which in turn increases the brakin g action on the beam heads and helps to maintain the preset yarn tension under the control of the rear binder roll 62. It will be understood that regardless of the position of the rear binder roll 62, the yarn tension between the creel and the feed roll 54 is held at a constant value, and that the yarn tension pressed on that portion of the yarn sheet extending between the feed roll 54 and the vat also remains constant. Ordinarily, while the machine is running normally, the rear binder roll 62 remains in a lowered position in which the air cylinder piston 162 is at the bottom end of its stroke for the reason that the yarn tension upon the portion of the yarn sheet extending between the creel and feed roll 54 is greater than the yarn tension on that portion of the yarn sheet extending between the feed roll 54 and the vat, whereas both the front and back binder rolls 62,60 are being acted upon by the same amount of air pressure, although the air pressure on the back binder roll could be slightly less than that on the front binder roll. The invention having been described, what is claimed is: 1 1. The'method of controlling the tension of a yarn sheet drawn from the individual beams of a creel through the feeding rolls of the size vat of a slasher, which comprises drawing the yarns of'the yarn sheet into the size vat by said rolls'at a predetermined rate, at an intermediate feed station drawing from the individual beams of the creel and controlling the feeding of the yarns of the yarn sheet to the size vat by said rolls at a predetermined rate, detecting variations in length of the yarn sheet extending between said station and the vat, applying a braking tension upon each of said beams, and varying said braking tension with relation to said detected variation in the length of the yarn sheet.

2. The method of controlling the'tension of a yarn sheet drawn from the individual beams of a creel through the feeding rolls of the size vat of a slasher, which c'omprises drawing the yarns of the yarn sheet intothe size vat by said rolls at a predetermined rate, at an intermediate feed station drawing from the individual beams of the creel and controlling the feeding of the yarns of the yarn sheet to the size vat by said rolls at a predetermined rate, applying a yarn takeup tension against that portion of the yarn sheet fed to the size vat, applying a braking'tension at each of said beams, and increasing and decreasing the braking tension on the individual beams as the length of yarn produced by the tension on the feeding yarn increases and decreases. 7 3. The method f controlling the tension of a 'yarn sheet drawn from the individual beams of a'creel through the feeding rolls of the size' vat of a slashefQWhicheomprises drawing'the yarns of the yarnshee't into the size vat by said rolls at a predetermined rate, at an interinediate feed station drawing from the individual beams of the creel and controlling the feeding of the'yarns 'of the yarn sheet to the size jvat by said rolls at a predetermined rate, applying a yarn take-up tension against that portion of the yarn sheet fed to the size vat, applying a yarn take-up tension against the yarns in that portion of the yarn sheet drawn from the beams of the creel, applying a braking tension at each of said beams, and increasing and decreasing the braking tension on the individual beams as the length of yarn produced by the tension on the feeding yarn increases and decreases.

'4. The method of controlling thetension of a yarn sheet drawn from the individual beams of a creel through the feeding rolls of the size vat" of a slasher which comprises, drawing the yarns of the yarn sheet through-the size vat by said rolls at a predetermined rate, at an inter: mediate station between the size vat and the creel positively drawing the yarns from the creel and controlling their feeding by said rolls to the size vat at; a controlled ten siion'producing rate, applying a yarn'take up tension against thatportion of the yarn-sheet extending between said intermediate station and the size v'at, applying an equal yarn take-up tension against the yarns in that-p0rtion of the yarn sheet extending-between the creel and said intermediate station, applying a braking tension upon each of said' beams,'an d adjusting saidbraking tension accordance with variations in'yarn length between said intermediate station and the size vat to maintain constant the tension upon that portion of the yarn sheet ex: tending from the creel.

5. Apparatus for controlling the tension of a yarn sheet drawn from the individual beams of a creel through the size vat of a slasher, which comprises a size vat having at least one positively driven yarnfengaging roll, means for positively feeding the yarns from the creel to the vat at a rate adjusted to maintain a predetermined low tension upon the yarn sheet entering the vat, means for applying a variable braking tension upon the individual beams of the creel, and means responsiveto varia-' tion in the amount of stretch and subsequent contraction in length of the, yarn sheet as fed to the vat caused .by variation in tension of the yarn drawn from the, beams of the creel to compensate the braking tensions on said bams'to remove said variations. v 7 6. Apparatus for controlling the tension of a yarn sheet drawnfrom the individual beams of a creel through the size vat of a slasher, which comprises arsize vat having at least one positively driven yarn engaging roll, a

'creel having individual beams, a feed roll disposed at an at a predetermined pressure, and means responsive to its movement for increasing and decreasing the braking tension on the individual beams as the length'ofyar n be} tween the feed roll and vat increasesand decreases. i

7. Apparatus for controlling the tensionof a yarn sheet drawn from the individual beamsof a creel through the size vat of a slasher, which comprises a size vat having at least one positively driven yarn engaging roll, a creel having individual beams, a feed roll disposed at an intermediate station between the size vat and the creel, means fordriving the vat roll and'feed rollat predetermined rates, means for applying a braking tensionupon each of said beams, yarn take-up tension producing elements engaging portions of said yarn sheet at each sideof the feed roll, means moving said yarn take-up 'tension'producing elements against the yarn sheet at a predetermined pressure, and means responsive to movement of the yarn take-up tension producing element at that side of the feed roll nearest the vat for increasing and decreasing the braking tension on the individual beams as the length of yarn between the feed roll and vat increases and de-v tween the size vat and the creel, means for driving the vat roll and the feed roll at predetermined rates, means for applying a variablerbraking tension upon the yarn sheet leaving the creel, yarn take-up tension elements supported for movement to take up portions of said yarn sheet at each side of the feed roll, means for moving said yarn take-up tension elements against the yarn sheet at a predetermined pressure, and means controlled by movement of the yarn take-up tension element at that side of the feed roll nearest the vat to correspondingly vary said braking tension at the creel.

9. Apparatus for controlling the tension of a yarn sheet drawn from individual beams of a creel through the size vat of a slasher, which comprises a size vat having at least one positively driven yarn engaging roll, a creel having individual beams, a feed roll disposed at an intermediate station between the size vat and the creel, means for driving the vat roll and the feed roll at predetermined rates, braking devices including air cylinders adjustable for controlling the braking tension on the beams, yarn take-up tensioning devices supported for movement to take up the portions of said yarn sheet at each side of the feed roll, an air cylinder connected to move each of said tensioning elements against the yarn sheet, air connections including an air pressure regulator for supplying air at the same pressure to each of said cylinders, an air pressure controller valve responsive to movement of the yarn take-up tension elements engaging the portion of the yarn sheet leading to the size vat for controlling the pressure in each of said air brake cylinders so that movement of the yarn take-up tension element responsive to the shortening of said yarn sheet leading to the size vat will reduce said braking pressure.

10. Apparatus for controlling the tension of a yarn sheet drawn from the individual beams of a creel through the vat rolls of the size vat of a slasher, which comprises, a size vat having at least one positively driven yarn engaging roll, a creel having individual beams, a feed roll disposed at an intermediate station between the size vat and the creel, means for driving the vat rolls and the feed roll at predetermined rates, pneumatically controlled braking means for tensioning the beams, front and rear binder rolls engaging portions of said yarn sheet at opposite sides of the feed roll, supporting means for said binder rolls including horizontally disposed supporting levers pivoted on the feed roll, and upwardly extending binder roll carrying arms pivoted from said sup port levers, air cylinders for controlling said binder rolls, said air cylinders having shiftable elements connected with the respective support levers adapted for movement in one direction to shift said binder rolls against the yarn sheet at opposite sides of the feed roll, and for movement in the opposite direction to shift the binder rolls away from the feed roll, and a connection between each of said support levers and a binder roll carrying arm carried by the other of said support levers rendered operative by said latter movement to move the binder rolls away from the feed roll.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,702,934 Frye Mar. 1, 1955 2,723,441 Groce Nov. 15, 1955 2,752,658 Ingham July 3, 1956 

